Folding device for packing machines



July 26, 1955 B. ABRAMOWSKI 2,713,761

FOLDING DEVICE FOR PACKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

IN V EN TOR.

lay- 2 I W July 26, 1955 B. ABRAMOWSKI 2,713,761

FOLDING DEVICE FOR PACKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-5 will 1:;

INVENTOR:

United States Patent FGLBENG nnvrca non PAeKrNo MACHINES Bruno Abramowski, Hambnrg-Bergedorf, Germany, assignor to Kurt Kiirber & Co. K. G., Hamburg-Bergederf, Germany Application .lanuary 23, 1953, Serial No. 332,978

iliaims priority, application Germany February 18, 1952 6 (Ilaims. (Cl. 53-148) This invention relates in general to improvements in packing machines for cigarettes or the like and more particularly to a device for folding down the short narrow tucks for end closure of a wrapper-type packing while the latter is positioned in a transfer case and whereby folding is effected during forwarding movement of the package together with said transfer case by swinging folding fingers or flaps mounted on said transfer case.

in present packing machines it is the custom to slide and remove the packagesfrom a traveling conveyor chain by means of sliding folding fingers actuated by drives located at both sides of the packing track. Such folding fingers impart thereby an accelerating motion to each passing package and simultaneously therewith fold the tucks for end closure and complete the package. This type of folding mechanism involves a crank drive and a cam drive with a relatively large number of individual parts at each side of the packing track and requires continual time-wasting adjustments for maintaining proper correlation of these several separate driving means in order to achieve accurate folding and tucking operations. Furthermore, the large number of moving members and links are susceptible to wear and cause backlash, both factors detrimental to continuous trouble-free working.

Other packing machines have been disclosed in which upright standing paper bags or the like containers are traveling on a conveyor belt, and in which at two oppositely located points swinging fingers are mounted .which are actuated to descend upon the top of each passing bag and thereby fold down the upper rim portions of the bags. Normally, the fingers are sustained in upward position by tension springs and are urged to swing downward only during the short interval when a bag passes by an arrangement of rolls and cams, mounted on the fingers and machine frame respectively. Such actuation of the folding fingers allows for only swinging and no sliding movement of the folding means, which for accommodation of different bag heights are preferably made adjustable with respect to the machine frame.

In another known device for folding down the end tucks of a wrapper, rotary folders are applied which slide along on two opposite sides of the package and each one of these folders folds down one tuck of the end closure by means of a superimposed movement. By this method the package is kept at rest during the folding operation and the rotary folder executes only such movements as can be imparted by actuating means which are stationary with respect to the conveying means of the packages. The cyclic interruption of travel hampers the productivity of this method.

A known modification of the method for closing "upright standing paper bags provides, furthermore, that the swinging folders forproducing the tucks of the top closure are held in their downward tuck-forming position until the bag just being closed, resuming'tr'avel, disengages the folders; whereup'on the latter swing up 2,713,761 Fatented July 26, 1955 ward again. But also here, the actual tuck-forming operation is effected while the bags are held stationary.

7 It is an object of the present invention to provide folding means for forming the tucks of end closures, especially of cigarette wrappers, which are of simple and reliable construction and which allow for speedy operation.

According to this invention, the packages to be closed, while uninterruptedly moved onward by a conveying chain in a continuous working cycle, are inserted in a transfer case which is adjustable for different package sizes and is slotted on its bottom side. While in this transfer case the packages are periodically advanced, whereby the mechanism provided for effecting such reciprocating movement may be utilized for actuating simultaneously transfer cases on several adjacent tracks. Near the side opposite to the receiving side of the packages, this transfer case is provided with two swinging folding fingers which, during forward movement of the transfer case and by action of such movement, are turned through an angle of more than degrees. and are simultaneously pulled sidewise outwardly in opposite directions at right angle to the forward movement, whereby for swinging action of the folding fingers, each of them is rigidly connected through a shaft, rotatably mounted in a slide, with a roller or pinion meshing a toothed rack or friction bar forming an extension of another slide in parallel arrangement with the firstrnentioned slide. Thus, relative motion between the two slides effects swinging action of the folding finger cooperating therewith. The last-mentioned slide is actuated by a cam roller and camway effecting outward movement of both slides and the folding finger after relative motion between the two slides has come to a stop. Thus, in accordance with this invention, a swinging and a straight sliding action is performed by the folding fingers for forming the end tucks.

The advantages gained by the construction of this invention and further details thereof will become apparent from the following description, which, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 represents a partial side view of a packing machine with a folding device according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the same machine;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, shown partly in section;

Figs. 4 shows a plan view, partly in section, of the device indicating also positions at different phases of motion;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section at the line VV of Fig 3; and

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a cigarette wrapper as preferably handled by the device of this invention, and indicate an unfolded and folded end tuck respectively.

Referring to the drawing, the package shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is one for which the described example of the present device is primarily intended and comprises an outer wrapper 1 and an inner wrapper 2, which latter projects a certain distance out of the former. The inner wrapper consists preferably of aluminum foil or the like. The sealing label or the revenue stamp, which is placed across the end folds after completion of the packing, is indicated at 3 and the short end tucks at 4. The machine for closing such a package is most generally shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein numeral 5 represents the table of the machine on which two parallel anglesection bars 6 are secured to form a slideway '7 therebetween. The table 5 is provided with a slot 8 through which a projection 9 of pusher 10 extends which is operaa tive in pushing the packages forward. The lower portion of projection 9 is secured to an endless chain 11 which is trained over sprockets 12 of which only one is shown in Fig. 1. Sprocket 12 is mounted on a shaft 13 journaled in bearings fastened to the frame of the machine. Toward the middle portion of table 5, there is an aperture 14 through which some driving members of the folding device proper project from beneath the table. The packing to be closed is fed by pusher into a slotted case 15, hereafter termed transfer case, which is rigidly joined to the casing 16 which in turn is attached to a cross-bar 17. Welded or otherwise secured to both ends of cross-bar 17 are sleeves 18 which slidably engage rods 19. Rods 19 are held in proper position by mounting blocks 20 secured to the top of table 5.

The functional members for folding down the end tucks of the package are accommodated within casing 16 and can best be seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Toward the front wall of casing 16 there are disposed a pair of front slides 21; and toward the rear wall, a pair of rear slides 22. It will be noted (Fig. 4) that the outer ends of each pair of slides project through the opposite lateral walls of the casing. The casing is covered at bottom and top by plates 23 and 24 respectively. The inner portions of front slides 21 carry rack extensions 25 provided with teeth at the edge facing the appertaining rear slides 22. Leg portions 26 project from front slides 21 at points near extensions 25 and engage corresponding recesses 27 in the appertaining rear slides 22. The recesses 27 are considerably wider than the leg portions 26 so that rear slides 22 are free to reciprocate between the limits 28, 29 of recesses 27. The limit stops 28 and 29 are substantially nonadjustable. Mounted on bolts 30, which pass rotatably through the inner portions of rear slides 22, are pinions 31; each pinion meshing with the appertaining rack extension 25 of the front slides 21. The projecting portions of bolts carry outside of casing 16 each one a folding finger 32. It is obvious that by this arrangement reciprocating movements of the pairs of slides 21 and 22 will cause the folding fingers 32 to swing into a position crosswise to the direction of package travel and back aagin. The distance between the limits 28 and 29 on the recesses 27 in rear slides 22 is so chosen that folding fingers 32 can turn only through an angle of about 90 degrees. The rear slides 22 are provided at their outer ends with angled extensions 33 to which tension springs 34 are attached, which with their other ends are anchored in lugs 35 projecting from cover plate 24 of casing 16. Thus the rear slides 22 are normally urged inwardly by springs 34. The projecting portions of the pair of front slides 21 carry outside of casing 16 cam rollers 37 which are free to rotate on pins 36. These rollers 37 engage each a separate camway 38. Each camway is cut in the form of a slot in a plate 39 secured in spaced relation on top of table 5 by means of distance pieces 40. There is one plate 39 with camway 38 arranged at each lateral side portion of table 5. The contours of the camways 38 are, for example, such that at the rear of the table the paths are parallel to each other for a short distance as indicated at 41, then they diverge outwardly as at 42, and finally run parallel again as at 43.

The end tuck folding device as just described can be reciprocated in the general direction of the extended slideway 7 (see Figs. 1 and 2) by any suitable means such as a crank drive, cam drive, or the like. The Fig. 1 shows, for example, a cam drive with cam disk 50 which transmits reciprocating movement to casing 16 by way of lever 58, link 44, sleeves 18 and cross-bar 17.

For the purpose of folding the lower side fiap of the closure after the two end tucks have been formed, provisions have been made which include the angular plate 45, mounted on stud a extending through table 5 and being shaped to be able to enter the bottom slot in transfer case 15. Actuation of this mechanism can again be obtained by a crank drive or a cam drive, and the latter is illustrated in Fig. 1 in the form of a pair of cam disks 51, 52, which are adapted to reciprocate angular plate 45 through lever 52:: in vertical direction; and through lever 53, in horizontal direction. In this manner it can be achieved that angle plate 45 not only folds the lower flap of the end closure but also forwards the package, on which only the upper side flap is still unfolded, from the transfer case 15 into the stacking tower 46.

The operation, so far as it has not become clear from the previous description, is as follows:

The cigarette package, which has been filled and is still open at its rear end, is pushed by pusher 11) (Fig. 2), which is driven by chain 11, on slideway 7 of table 5 toward transfer case 15, which during its reciprocating movement has just reached the rear end of aperture 14 a short distance in front of slideway 7. After the package has been completely pushed into the transfer case by chain pusher 10 (see indication of packing 1 in Fig. 2), the forward movement of the transfer case 15 and the thereto fixed casing 16 begins in the direction toward stacking tower 46. During the previous backward movement toward the slideway 7, the folding fingers 32 have been turned into a position substantially parallel or even slanting outwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the packages so that there is no diffieulty in entering the latter into the transfer case 15. During the forward movement now following, the cam rollers 37 pass first the straight distance 41 of their camways 38. However, as forward movement proceeds, the camways diverge and the cam rollers and therewith the thereto connected front slides 21 move outward. This movement effects that pinions 31 are turned by rack extensions 25 of the front slides 21, which causes also rotation of bolts 30 and a swinging movement of folding fingers 32 through an angle of de grees on account of the rigid connection between pinion 31, bolt 30, and finger 32. This swinging movement of fingers 32 folds down the narrow end tucks 4 on the package. The cam rollers continue their travel along the diverging portion of the camways, but the leg portions 26 of the front slides 21 have struck the limit stops 29 of the recesses 27 in rear slides 22. This fact prevents further relative motion between the slides 21 and 22 and further rotation of the pinions 31. The still farther diverging camways continue to exert an outward pull on front slides 21 which now must take rear slides 22 along, acting against the tension of springs 34. Since bolts 30, carrying the folding fingers 32, are journaled in rear slides 22, it is obvious that an outward movement of the latter will retract the folding fingers in opposite, sidewise direction from the package. When the cam rollers 37 have reached the parallel portions 43 of the camways 38, the folding fingers 32 have cleared the package completely. They return into their original position during the subsequent backward movement of casing 16, by first sliding toward the center and then turning into a position substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the packages. Damage to packages is thereby impossible, because during the backward movement no new package has yet been entered into the transfer case 15.

With the narrow side tucks folded down on the rear end of it, the package continues its forward movement in transfer case 15 until met by angular plate 45 which, while ascending, folds the lower wide-side flap of the end closure over the tucks and, by virtue of its horizontal movement imparted to angular plate 45 by cam arrangement 52, 53, transfers the package from transfer case 15 into the stacking tower 46. The final closing operation, consisting in folding the still open upper flap with overlying sealing stamp 3, is caused in a manner known in itself by upward movement in the stacking tower itself, and is effected in the present instance by a pusher 54 which is actuated by eccentric disk 55, follower lever 56, and rod 57.

It may be here mentioned that the swinging folding fingers 32 and angular plate 45 are so dimensioned and actuated that they cannot interfere with each other and it is absolutely possible to time operation so that fingers 32 still lie against the folded-in tucks 4 while plate 45 folds the lower side flaps thereagainst. Since the folding fingers 32, as will be recalled, recede sidewise in opposite directions, no interference can be caused by such manner of operation.

A certain adjustment of the angular motion of folding fingers 32 can be obtained in several ways: The in clination of the carnways 38 with respect to the path of travel of the folding members can be increased, the diameter of rack pinions 31 can be changed, the limit stops 2%, 29 can be made adjustable and can be properly set, or a combination of any of these possibilities can be applied.

While I have described and shown in some detail a specific embodiment of my invention, I am aware that several changes in detail can be made and therefore i do not intend to be limited to the construction shown but desire to claim the invention as broadly as possible within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a packing machine for cigarettes or the like, the combination of a reciprocating member adapted for holding and forwarding a package with open end closure at its rear, a pair of folding fingers mounted in said reciprocating member one at each lateral side of the package, said pair of folding fingers being operable to fold in the lateral tucks of the package end closure by performing opposite swinging motions through angles of substantially 90 degrees and additionally straight motions in a horizontal plane, with one finger moving in an opposite direction to the other toward and from the package, a set of actuating elements associated with each of said folding fingers being operable in imparting said swinging and straight motions to said folding fingers, said sets of actuating elements being slidable within said reciprocating member at right angles to the direction of reciprocation, a pair of stationary camways one at each side along the distance of reciprocation of said reciprocating member, each camway being engaged by one of said sets of actuating elements and being adapted to impart sliding motion to said elements in synchronism with reciprocation of said reciprocating member so that one set of actuating elements always slides in an opposite direction to the other set of actuating elements, and actuating means for said reciprocating member.

2. In a packing machine for cigarettes or the like, the combination including a casing, a transfer case rigidly attached to said casing and adapted for receiving a package with one open end closure, actuating means for imparting reciprocating motion to said casing, two front slides in alinement and opposition to each other disposed within said casing and adapted for sliding in a horizontal direction at right angles to the direction of reciprocation, two rear slides disposed within said casing, each associated with one of said front slides in substantially parallel relation thereto and adapted to slide relatively thereto and in unison therewith, a folding finger unit engaging each of the two sets of associated front and rear slides and adapted to be actuated thereby for swinging motion from a position substantially parallel to the direction of reciprocation to a position substantially at right angles thereto and for straight horizontal motion at right angles to the direction of reciprocation, whereby the finger unit actuated by one set of slides is destined to move at each instance in opposite direction to the finger unit actuated by the other set of slides, a pair of stationary camways disposed one at each lateral side along the distance of reciprocation of said casing, and engaging means attached to each set of said associated front and rear slides and cooperating with the respective one of said camways and being operative to impart actuation to said sets of slides and said folding finger units in response to reciprocating movement of said casing.

3. A device for folding the end tucks of an end closure of a cigarette package or the like, comprising a casing having a package holding means attached thereto and being adapted for reciprocating motion, two front slides in alinement and opposition to each other disposed within said casing and having each a toothed rack extension at its inner end and projecting one at one and the other at the other lateral side of said casing, a cam roller rotatably mounted on each of said front slide projections, two rear slides disposed within said casing, each associated with one of said front slides in substantially parallel relation thereto and adapted to slide relatively thereto and in unison therewith, a folding finger unit rotatably carried by each one of said rear slides and comprising a bolt pivoted in said rear slide, a folding finger proper fixed to one end of said bolt and a pinion fixed to the other end of said bolt, each of said pinions meshing with one of said toothed rack extensions of said front slides so that relative motion between cooperating front and rear slides causes rotation of said appertaining finger unit and swinging movement of the folding finger proper, and a pair of stationary cam- Ways disposed one at each lateral side along the distance of reciprocation of said casing and each engaged by one of said cam rollers and effecting actuation of said slides and folding finger units during reciprocation of said casing.

4. A device as in claim 3, in which a recess is provided in each of said rear slides, and in which each front slide has a leg portion engagin the recess in the cooperating front slide with a certain clearance, thus limiting the relative motion between said slides and therewith the amount of swinging motion of the respective folding finger.

5. A device as in claim 3 in which said rear slides are normally urged into said casing each by a tension spring.

6. A device as in claim 3, in which each or" said folding finger units is constructed so that the axis of rotation of its bolt and pinion is in alinement with the pivotal edge of the folding finger proper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,360,846 Bronander Oct. 24, 1944 2,378,457 Arelt June 19, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 214,792 Great Britain May 1, 1924 

